Posts

Save Congressional Arts & Culture Funding

/in /by

From the Baltimore National Heritage Area programs and grants, run by the National Park Service, to the Baltimore School for the Arts’ NEA supported TWIGS program, the congressional arts and culture funding has major impact on Baltimore residents. All of these programs and more are threatened by President Trump’s proposed federal budget. Now more than ever it is important for everyone to contact your members of Congress to let them know that you support all agencies that help local organizations. Although President Trump’s initial attempt to cancel the NHAs, NEH, NEA, CPB, and IMLS in the federal FY17 budget was stopped by Congress, the President’s FY18 budget once again proposes the elimination of these agencies. It’s not too late to have influence on the 2018 budget, because the final authorization is in the hands of the U.S. Congress. Contact your Senators and Representatives today and let them know that you value arts and culture.

Click below for Calls to Actions

  1. Americans for the Arts

  2. American Alliance of Museums

  3. Humanities Alliance

National Advocacy

  • Take two minutes to contact your two Senators and your House representatives now.
  • Join the Arts Action Fund (for free) so you can get alerts as quickly as possible and you can respond to decision-makers fast.

Congressional Art Funding Protected, For Now

/in /by

A message from our state level arts advocacy partner, Maryland Citizens for the Arts:

Congress has reached a bipartisan agreement on a bill to fund the nation’s federal agencies and programs for the remaining balance of the current FY2017 fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2017.  None of the nation’s arts and cultural agencies nor programs incurred a budget cut. In fact, many of them received funding increases for this year (see chart below here). As you will see from the chart, not only was there no cut to the NEA’s current fiscal year budget, but our champions in Congress actually proposed a $2 million increase!

This great news is just one example of how all of your grassroots arts advocacy efforts of sending thousands of letters, emails, phone calls, personal visits, op-eds, news articles, targeted advertising, and research proved effective. Arts advocates like you sent over 160,000 emails through American’s for the Arts’ (AFTA) Action Center. Thank you for your tireless work!

Next Steps:

  • FY2017:  Both chambers of Congress will next vote on this bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations bill before it proceeds to the President’s desk for him to sign/veto by this Friday, May 5th.  Despite the President recently proposing funding cuts to many of these cultural programs (i.e. $15 million cut to NEA), it appears that he will sign the bill.
  • FY2018:  Please note that the FY2018 appropriations bill for funding the federal government from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018 is still very much in play and going through the legislative process. This is the bill that the President recommended eliminating the NEA, NEH, IMLS, CPB, etc.  We remain focused on getting all of these agencies fully funded as well in the coming months.

AFTA’s #SAVEtheNEA campaign continues to go strong to advance the FY2018 message to Congress and the White House.  Please consider sending a #SAVEtheNEA message to your Congressional delegation as well as supporting our advocacy campaign efforts with a contribution. Click here to craft a message to your Congressional lawmakers and make sure your voice is heard!

#CitizenArtistBmore partner GBCA also shared this statement.

Safe Art Space Task Force Meeting 4/4

/in /by

The next meeting of the Mayor’s Safe Art Space Task Force is this Tuesday, April 4, 4pm, at Maryland Institute College of Art – 300 W Mt. Royal Ave, Room M110.

The Mayor’s Task Force on Safe Art Space is working to create a citywide network of safe, cost effective, contemporary, living, live/work, studio, and performance spaces for emerging and established artists. They need your input! The Task Force integrates the perspectives of artistic, design, development, financial, regulatory, and revitalization exports to develop strategies, identity resources, and propose a programmatic framework that will develop and sustain spaces that protect the safety of artists and patrons, while meeting the logistical and technical interests of today’s performers and audiences.

Click here to find out about upcoming task force meetings.

For artists living / working in Baltimore City, click here to take the Safe Arts Space Survey:
http://safeartspace.tumblr.com/Safe Artis Space Survey

 

Safe Art Space Survey

/in /by

The Mayor’s Task Force on Safe Art Space is working to create a citywide network of safe, cost effective, contemporary, living, live/work, studio, and performance spaces for emerging and established artists. They need your input! Fill out the Safe Space Survey here.

The Task Force integrates the perspectives of artistic, design, development, financial, regulatory, and revitalization exports to develop strategies, identity resources, and propose a programmatic framework that will develop and sustain spaces that protect the safety of artists and patrons, while meeting the logistical and technical interests of today’s performers and audiences.

Click here to find out about upcoming task force meetings.

 

Safe Art Space Public Forum

/in /by

The Mayor’s Safe Art Space Task Force Public Forum is today, Thursday, February 16, 4-7pm, at the War Memorial building, 101 N. Gay Street. Contribute your input to help create a citywide network of safe, cost-effective, contemporary, living, live/work, studio, and performance spaces for established and emerging artists. Click here to learn more and register:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mayors-safe-art-space-task-force-public-forum-tickets-32092245771

Advocate for local arts funding 2/14 & 3/20-21

/in /by

Maryland State Arts Council is the largest funder of operating support in Baltimore City and is critical throughout the state and region. Our chance to advocate for local arts funding is now! Register for Maryland Arts Day on February 14 to show your commitment to the arts in Baltimore City. Early bird registration is through Friday, February 3rd. Click here to learn more and register.

Americans for the Arts’ Advocacy Day is March 20-21. Both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities are threatened in the country’s current political climate. Click here to learn more and participate.

Take Action to Protect National Arts Funding

/in /by

Last week The Hill newspaper broke the alarming story that policy advisors to the President are calling for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities and privatizing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. While Citizen Artist Baltimore is focused on primarily on advocating for supporting arts and culture at a local level, we can’t stand by while larger institutions for support are threatened. Take action to protect national arts funding! Here is what you can do:

  • Click here to learn more from Americans for the Arts about about the funding threat to the NEA.
  • Take two minutes to contact your two Senators and your House representatives now.
  • Join the Arts Action Fund (for free) so we can get alerts to you as quickly as possible and you can respond to decision-makers fast.

Affordable & Safe Housing for All Baltimoreans

/in /by

Since the tragic Ghost Ship artist warehouse fire in Oakland on December 2nd, artist live-work spaces have been subject to increased fire safety scrutiny nationwide. Locally, on December 5 the Bell Foundry live and work artist space was inspected and condemned. Residents and cultural workers were evicted without advance warning due to code violations. Today, December 21, Mayor Catherine Pugh announced a Task Force on Safe Art Spaces comprised of artists, city officials, cultural leaders, and developers. Citizen Artist Baltimore will work with the Mayor’s Task Force to contribute to housing solutions benefiting artists, cultural workers, and all Baltimoreans.

Baltimore Taskforce Safe Artist Spaces announcement

Station North Director Elissa Blout Moorehead speaking alongside Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh at the press conference announcing Task Force on Safe Artist Spaces.

Low-income artists seeking affordable live/work spaces routinely take on the financial and bodily risks of converting and occupying former industrial and commercial spaces. These spaces serve not only as places of artistic production and affordable shelter, but also as community spaces for marginalized groups, including those identifying as queer and people of color. The loss of these safe spaces is one piece of a much larger set of housing challenges in our city. Low income families are increasingly unable to find fair and affordable housing throughout Baltimore. More needs to be done to ensure access to safe and affordable housing and workspace for all.

As fire marshals continue to inspect buildings, Baltimore City should commit to supporting the immediate needs of those living with housing insecurity who are seeking to make necessary improvements and to also invest in other long-term solutions. Citizen Artist Baltimore stands in solidarity with long term fair housing advocates represented by the Baltimore Housing Roundtable and Housing For All, and support their efforts to implement the Affordable Housing Trust Fund approved by voters in the general election.

Safe and affordable housing and workspace is a human right. Citizen Artist Baltimore values the rights of artists, and all Baltimore residents, to safe and affordable housing and workspace. We will work with City Hall to make sure artist voices are heard! Sign up for action alerts as the new Mayor and City Council address these issues and to learn about other opportunities to advocate for arts and culture.

Click here to use the form on our frontpage to sign up for action alerts!

Baltimore Arts Education Coalition: Principal Panel Discussion

/in , /by

November 30, 2016 from 4:30-6:30 PM

Hosted by Arts Every Day
120 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201

Click here to RSVP

The Baltimore Arts Education Coalition (BAEC) is a group of citizens advocating for, and partnering with City Schools to build, strong arts programs. On November 30, the BAEC will hold a panel discussion with Baltimore City Schools principals to discuss strategies on how to ensure that all students participate in high quality arts education programs and receive instruction in all arts disciplines including dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts.

The panel is comprised of City Schools principals who are doing good work in providing quality arts instruction for students.  Panelists will share their insight on the budgeting, scheduling and day-to-day decisions that impact the arts. The program will include time for questions and discussion with the audience.

Panelists include:

Cathleen Miles, Principal at Abbottston Elementary School
Nancy Fagan, Principal at Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School #215
Craig Rivers, Principal at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School
Mathew Hornbeck, Principal at Hampstead Hill Academy
Jessica Johnson, Principal at Booker T. Washington Middle School for the Arts